Armyworm, Spodoptera exempta (Wlk.) feed on cereals and grassland in eastern and southern Africa. Data on the yield losses and economic effects of an attack on cereals is sparse. They can be an indirect cause of cattle deaths. The need to examine the situation at the farm level has been recognized. A national survey was conducted in 1987, and is currently being analysed. The work entails identifying representative areas and farmers, completing a questionnaire with each farmer, noting the frequency of outbreaks experienced, the farmers' response, the level of government support, the effectiveness of control measures and the costs incurred. Proposals are outlined for future work within the region to determine the reduction in cereal yields due to this insect and to set up action thresholds for control activities. A major difficulty with the survey approach is the disaggregation of various loss-causing factors. At a sub-sample of survey sites, where outbreaks are present, the damage to the crop and the subsequent yield of the damaged crop or the planting of a replacement crop would be recorded to build up data from which action thresholds might be determined.